Fincantieri has officially begun construction on the Italian Navy’s next-generation FREMM EVO frigate with a steel-cutting ceremony at its Riva Trigoso shipyard in Genoa.
The milestone follows a 2024 contract awarded to Orizzonte Sistemi Navali — a joint venture between Fincantieri, Leonardo, and OCCAR.
The frigate represents the first unit in the program, with construction of a second hull planned for 2026. Deliveries of the unnamed frigates are slated for 2029 and 2030.
Based on Franco-Italian System
Italy’s new warships are derived from the FREMM design, developed through a joint program between the Italian and French governments.
The platform is already in service with both NATO allies, known as the Bergamini class in Italy and the Aquitaine class in France.
Although built with a uniform architecture, the vessels are configured according to the exclusive requirements of their users. The frigates also incorporate mission-specific capabilities that categorize them into general-purpose and anti-submarine warfare variants.
Alongside Italy and France, the Egyptian Navy and the Royal Moroccan Navy also employ the system.
In 2020, the Pentagon contracted Fincantieri’s American segment, Marinette Marine, to construct a US Navy frigate based on the FREMM design in Wisconsin. The following year, the Indonesian Navy purchased six FREMM ships from the Italian company.
The FREMM EVO Frigate
The FREMM EVO spans 145 meters (476 feet) in length and has a 20-meter (66-foot) beam.
It will be armed with anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, decoy launchers, naval weapon turrets, and a cyber-resilient sensor and communication suite.
The vessel will be able to carry up to 180 personnel, up to two maritime helicopters, and inflatable support boats.
It will sail at more than 30 knots (56 kilometers/35 miles per hour) and will have a range of 6,800 nautical miles (7,825 miles/12,600 kilometers).
